Venezuela's interim leader thanks Trump at UN, reversing earlier criticism
Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez thanked US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly for resuming diplomatic relations, a stark contrast to her 2019 speech accusing the US of economic terrorism. She previously cited $130bn in losses from US sanctions. The shift comes after Trump oversaw regime change in Venezuela, with Nicolas Maduro now jailed in New York.
In 2019, as vice president under Maduro, Rodriguez accused the US of economic terrorism via sanctions, citing $130bn in losses from 2015-2018 and criticizing plutocratic control of US politics. At the 2026 UNGA, she thanked Trump for resuming diplomatic relations, appearing alongside him in a photo.
The reversal follows Trump's January 2026 military strikes that killed roughly 100 people and abducted Maduro, now jailed in Brooklyn awaiting a June 2027 trial on charges including conspiracy to possess machineguns. Trump subsequently announced a deal granting US majority control of over 65 billion barrels of Venezuela's proven oil reserves.
This shift may signal a broader normalization of forceful regime change and resource extraction, potentially emboldening similar actions elsewhere. Venezuelan citizens face the consequences of a foreign-imposed government and lost sovereignty, while the international community's muted response could weaken norms against prosecuting sitting leaders. Oil markets may be reshaped by US control of reserves, affecting global energy prices and geopolitical balances, though long-term stability remains uncertain.